I did not argue Paul and other apostles did not preach water baptism. Somehow you are thinking I am. I pointed out the Gospel message was not baptism but what baptism points to. The death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus. You pointed out this such in your last post.
My underlying point was water does not justify us but we are justified by faith in Christ’s finished work. Baptism, akin to circumcision is the seal of the covenant. Abraham was justified before circumcision.
**My underlying point was water does not justify us but we are justified by faith in Christ’s finished work. Baptism, akin to circumcision is the seal of the covenant. Abraham was justified before circumcision.**
That’s one of the common defenses of ‘the don’t move a muscle to believe’ crowd. Only thing is, God called Abram out of Haran, unto a land that was promised to him,.........and he OBEYED. Only a 400+ mile trip the old fashioned way. What was Abram faithful about BEFORE he was called out? Well, for one, burnt offerings, most likely.
His circumcision was 24 years AFTER he came to Canaan.
It’s a symbol of separation from the world. Likewise, Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude all exhort those called to be saints to turn from worldly ways, and be separate. To grow in Christ, old things are passed away, and all things becoming new.
The apostles taught that water baptism was done in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and was done pronto if the hearer was ready. Every instance spelled out in Acts shows water baptism was done right away. One of my peeves is this delayed action baptism which is so common, even in One God Apostolic churches. “Let’s all come back next week for Jim’s baptism, so all the relatives can be here for the big event!” (that kind of pastoral management really tests my ‘patience and longsuffering’)